Ramsey Orta used his cell phone to record officers using a banned chokehold to kill Eric Garner, who was complaining that “I can’t breathe.”. Eric’s death is very symbolic for the Black Lives Matter movement.

The officer was not indicted for Garner’s death despite killing a man unnecessary and using a banned maneuver.

However, Orta is facing a four year jail sentence. It’s not directly for the video but he does believe he has been targeted and put under extra scrutiny for what he did.

Ramsey’s sentence is for selling heroin and possessing an illegal firearm. His sentence starts on Monday as part of a plea agreement with the New York District Attorney.

Vice Reported:

he has always contended that he got extra scrutiny from the police because of his video. “I get spotlights shined in my window,” Orta told VICE News in an interview. “Officers park around my house, wave at me, follow me, point me out, say ‘that’s the video guy.'”

He has been arrested numerous times, including at a Black Lives Matter demonstration and while recording police conducting a traffic stop.

A member of Cop Watch, Orta says he plans continue his activism on the inside, even though he is concerned about retaliation from corrections officers too. “I plan on holding “know your rights” training,” Orta said. “Specifically about and around prisoner rights.”

Jose LaSalle, who founded the South Bronx’s Cop Watch Patrol Unit in 2011, says that patterns of police retaliation against activists are not uncommon. He has been arrested on numerous occasions, and is currently involved in three separate lawsuits that he filed against the NYPD alleging retaliatory arrest and confiscating his cellphone containing footage of police activity.

Orta says he hoped his imprisonment won’t discourage people from recording the police. “I don’t want my situation to be a deterrent to people who want to film the police,” he said. “Keep fighting. Hold the police accountable.”

I guess this is a tough situation. He did bad, selling drugs is no small crime. However he was probably targeted. Lets hope he rises above the drugs and finds his full activist voice, and comes out a strong man fighting the cause.

What do you think?